Oxygen tent



Jan. 9, 1945. G HAUGH I 2,366,904

OXYGEN TENT Filed May 16, 1942 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet l Gorao-n Hau m G. A. HAUGH Jan. 9, 1945,

OXYGEN TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 16, 1942 zjrlve-rrl'or GorFqw J4. Hal

I v arr/ I Patented Jan. 9,1945

-1 UNITED STATES ascents OXSLGEN IfENT g Gordon Alexander fHaugh, lloronto, Ontario, l 1 Canada, assignor to HaugliisfProductsLiniited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a companygof the Dominion oi Canada Applica'tionMay 1c, 1942, S'erialNo. 443,1:96

I'ClaimQ c1. rte-143) I'his invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus especially applicable for the-treatment of pulmonary diseases and is particularly directed to providing a:device in whichthe constitution of the air admitted to and contained therein can be controlled precisely Within predetermined limits, which is light and comfortable for the patient undergoing treatment, which is readily portable; and which can be manufactured inexpensively of readily available materials.

In the treatment of various diseases, particularly pulmonary diseases, devices are in relatively widespread use'for maintaining a patient in an atm'osphereoi air enriched with oxygen, orcther elements or compounds. *Various types of appae ratus for administering this form of therapy are well-known and maybe inthe form of face masks or nasal inhalers, nose catheters, ltents or-chambars. The type 'otapparatus used ordinarily depends upon the equipment which is available,

upon the'personal preference of the patient, and a the patient. v

Direct the principal objects of the present inupon the"constitutionfofthe air prescribed for vention is to provide an apparatus for maintain- Alf urther object of theinvention is toprovi'de an apparatus which is readily portablej'and which is; easily manufactured of inexpensive andreadily availablematerials.

A still further object is rtoprovideamethod for m preparing the air and delivering lQhGjDlBetIGatGd air to theapparatus, by means of which method brought into air seal-v subjected to a minimum, if

Figure '1 is :a diagrammatic ratusu sedto treattthevair;

Figured isa detail view of the injector device by means of which air is drawn fIOIl'lfiIldJfOICBd to the therapeutic apparatus; and

FigureiS isa chart illustrating the volume of air idrawn into the circulating system "by the arrangement illustrated in Figures "73%and 8.

* Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout" the specification and drawings. The modification ofmy invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 is suitable for use/by patients who are not confined to their bedsv l l 11' "the device illustrated in Figuies:1, :2,"3,:and4, the helmet is formed with a facep'iece Ill, .sid e pieces II, a back piece l2, and aneck band I 3.

- of which can be predetennined and controlled the usual mechanical devices for'creating forced "circulationare'eliminated.

An understanding of the objects of the present invention and themanner in which they are attained may be hadfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings, inywhich-z' Figure '1 is a plan view ofa helmet embodying thepresent invention; l l

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the helmet shown in Figure 1; l 5 V Figure 3 is aside-elevation of the helmet shown in Figures '1 and 2, being worn b a patient;

"Figure 4 is ase ctional detail view showing a preferred arrangement of joining the various 1 parts ofthe'helmet;

Figure "5is a side elevation of a face mask embodying-the presentinvention;

Figure 6 is atent incorporating \the features "ofthepresent'inventiom a l a i The facepiece lfl is formed of relatively rigid, nonporous, transparentsheeting, such as cellulose or acetate sheets, and extends approximately l horizontally, preferably, the it full widthof the ,"head irom the back of the head to well vinfront of the' 'fa'ce, th'ence downwardly to belowthe chin,

thence inwardlyfand downwardly to thepoint at it is secured to theneek band 13 The side pieces ill .and back piece 12 are forined of soft, pliant, nonporous materialpsuch as that sold under the trade-mark Winylite, and

extend loosely from'the face piecel'lito the neck a *band 3, being secured to theface'piece and neck band by stitching or cementing as indicated by 'The neck band [3 isformed of relatively strong,

relja'ti-vely pliant material, suchas cloth or canvas', and is of a length suificient to permit the helmet to be brought over thehead oi the patients lt is provided with ffastening devices 15 l 'su'chtas dome fasteners; by means of which the neck band can beadjustedto the neck of the patient. a

The device is a softrubber band M, such as sponge rubber, whichis secured tothe inner surface of the neck band" l 3.isuch as bystitching or cementing.

Air "issadmitted to and withdrawn from the "helmet through ducts l6 Mand ll respectively,

' 'which are connected to the circulating system described in detail hereinafter.

The iacei mask illustra-tedin Figure 5 is also cauconvenient embodiment of my invention and: is i also suitable 1 for use by atpatient who is not conflned to :aebed. The face mask includes a face piece t8 which extends'the-ilull lengthofthe iace,

fromvthe forehead to the chin, and approximately the full width of the head. The face piece ll is formed of transparent, relatively rigid sheetingpsuch as cellulosewor acetate sheets, and is shaped-' to extend outwardly from the face a distance suflicient to be comiortable tothe wearer. Apieceof-soft, pliant, non-porous material zfl,

n 2366304 TENT OFFICE LII view of the appa brought into air-sealing engageinent with the neck of the patient by means "of v such as that sold under the trade name Vinylite, is joined to the top. of the face piece along the seam indicated by the numeral 2|, and extends loosely to the periphery of the mask where it is joined to the soft rubber band I9.

The face piece and the soft, pliant piece 20 are to ensure a tight but comfortable fit.

Air is admitted to and withdrawn from the face mask through the ducts 23 and 23a respectively, which are connected to the circulating system.

The modificationof my invention illustrated in Figure 6 is particularly suitable for patients who are confined to their beds. Theprinciple upon which this modification is based is the same as that of the preceding modifications in that the device is brought into air-sealing engagement with the patients body as distinguished from those devices wherein the sides and ends of the device are merely tucked under the bed-clothes. This modification is in theform, of an oxygen tent in which the upper part of the body of the patient is enclosed.

The portion of the tent enclosing the patients head comprises a rigid supporting structure having a panel 24 which extends across the width of the tent and which is securable to the end of a bed bymeans of the outwardly and downwardly extending hook-like rods 25. A rod 26 extends horizontally forwardly from each end of the panel 24 and a rod 2'! extends Vertically upwardly, thence forwardly from approximately the middle thereof. The rods 26 and 21 comprise the framework which supports this portion of the oxygen tent, as described in detail hereinafter.

The oxygen tent comprises a supported portio having substantially vertical side walls 28, and an inverted V-shaped roof 29. The upper edges of;

the side walls 28 are secured to the rods 26 by lacing, as indicated by the numeral 30. The apex of the inverted V-shapedroof 29 is secured to the rod 21 by lacing as indicated by the numeral 3|. The main body of the oxygen tent is preferably formed of relatively pliant transparent, nonporous material such as that sold under the trade name Pliofilm.

The remainder of the tent, indicated by the numeral 32, extends, preferably, below the chest of the patient and is formed of non-porous, soft pliant material, such as that sold under the trade name of Vinylite. The portion 32 of the tent terminates in the opening 33, the only opening in the tent. The end of the portion 32 is secured to a band 34 which is of sufficient diameter to permit drawing the tent over the body of the patient. A strip of soft rubber 35 is joined to the inner surface of the band 34. When in place, the soft rubber strip 35 is brought into air-sealing engagement with the body of the patient by adjustmentof the length of the band 34 and the rubber strip 35 can be adjusted to fit snugly straps 22 which may be slightly resilient in order sure.

trated in Figures '7 and 8. In this system, the use of the usual mechanical circulating devices are eliminated. The air is preferably circulated in closed circuit, to avoid wasteful losses of oxygen, being withdrawn from the therapeutic device through the conduit 40 and passed through a carbon dioxide absorber 43 in which the carbon dioxide content of the air is absorbed. The air leaving the carbon dioxide absorber may be passed to a refrigerator 44 and cooled to a predetermined temperature, and thence passed through a moisture absorber 45 or, alternatively, it may be passeddirectly from the carbon dioxide absorber to the moisture absorber. The air from the moisture absorber passes into conduit 46 which is connected to conduit 4|.

Pure oxygen, from an oxygen cylinder, is fed under pressure into conduit 4| from an injector 42, as illustrated in Figure 8. The oxygen in the oxygen tank is under a relatively high pressure and, consequently, the oxygen is injected into conduit 4| under the same relatively high pres- The injector 42 is located in conduit 4| in such a position that the oxygen ejected there from serves to create a syphon effect in the line behind it and thereby draw the airfrom conduit 46 into the conduit 4| wherein it comes in contact and is mixed with the oxygen ejected from nozzle 42, and thecirculation of the used air from and the treated air to the therapeutic device is established. l

The several forms of the therapeutic apparatus described and illustrated herein have been found to possess desirable advantages which are not present in the various devices of the prior art with which I am familiar. In each form of apparatus, the patient can be maintained in a prescribed atmosphere which is controllable within very narrow limits. This is made possible; by bringing the apparatus into air-sealing engagement with the head or body of the patient, and uncontrolled leakage of air into or out of the device is prevented. The use of soft, sponge rubber to draw the device into air-sealing engagement with the head or body of the patient serves several purposes. Under normal circumstances, the leakage of air into or out of the device is. prevented. However, should the circulating system, forany reason, cease to function, sufiicient air can be drawn through the pores of the sponge rubber to satisfy the breathing requirementsof the patient. The use of material having the characteristics of that sold under the trade name Vinylitej. a vinyl resin, is very desirable. The material is, of course, very oft and pliant. It is translucent in that. it permits a certain amount of light to pass through it. It is non-porous and it is not 1111-. comfortable to the wearer in that moisture does not appear to collect on the surface and, therefore, it is not clammy to the touch. In addition to these characteristics, the surplus of the material in each modification of the invention serves to equalize the pressure during inhalation'and expiration and thereby permit natural breathing without any discomfort. a

As pointed out hereinbefore, there'is no loss .of treated air from the device except, of course,

that consumed by the patient. By circulating the air in closedcircuit as described and illustrated herein, it serves to minimize the amount .of oxygen or other element or compound added to the air in preparing the air for admission to the patient, therebeing no other loss. In addition,

of course, a further substantial savingin the cost of manufacturing and operating the device may be effected by using the oxygenadmitted to the system to establish the circulation of the treated air, thereby dispensing with the need of providing any mechanicalcirculating devices.

In the event, of course, that the apparatus for absorbing the carbon dioxide and moisture from 'the used air is not available, or if for anyiother reason the used air is not to be recirculated, an

i is the oxygen container and the air duct to the atmosphere. a

The efliciency of the described circulating system is shown by the chart which constitutes Figure 9 of the drawings. On reference to this chart, it will benoted that the injection of oxygen at the rate of 2 litres per minute into conduit 4| draws into that conduit 2.6 litres of air from conduit 46, making atotal of 4.6 litres per minute of treated air passed to the therapeutic apparatus;

3 litres of oxygen draws with it 5.6 litres of air, making a total of 8.6 litres per minute of treated air; 4 litres perminute oxygen draws with it 8.6 litres of air making a total of 12.6 litres of treated air. I havev found that this syphon system of circulation is very satisfactory and the constitution of the treated air passed into the therapeutic deexhaust valve can be substituted for the outlet, duct and the only piece of equipment necessary vice can be controlled within very, narrow limits.

It will be understood, of course, that modificationsmay be made to the specific embodiment oi the invention described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invene tion as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as newand desiretoprotect by Letters Patent of the United States is;

A therapeutic device of the class described comprising a relatively rigid face piece formed of transparent, non-porous material and extending the full length and width of the face of the wearer and terminating at its upper end in a loose,

bag-like piece of soft, pliantmaterial, a band of soft, sponge rubber-like material joined to and extending around the inner surface of the periphery of said face pieceand said bag-like piece, and

means forholding said soft, sponge rubber-like bandin air-sealing engagement with the sides and top of the head and under the chin of the wearer, an air duct in the lower part of said face piece and asecond air duct in the upper part thereof, each i of said air ducts communicating with the interior of said face piece.

GORDON ALEXANDER HAUGH. 

